Etymology

The original form cannot be reconstructed with certainty. The first part is ձու ‎(ju, “egg”), the ending is probably եղ ‎(eł, “oil”). For the middle part various explanations have been offered — it could be from ածեմ ‎(acem) or from the participial ending -ած ‎(-ac). If the original form is ձուաձեղ ‎(juajeł), the middle -ձ- ‎(-j-) could have been inserted due to a perseveration. Alternatively, if the original form is ձուազեղ ‎(juazeł), it can be interpreted as ձու ‎(ju, “egg”) +‎ -ա- ‎(-a-) +‎ զեղուլ ‎(zełul, “to pour out, to spill”).